Inverrary Riders Decry Bus Route Change

LAUDERHILL -- A recent bus route change saved the Broward County Transit $125,000 but may have created some problems for bus riders in the Inverrary area.

``Dollars and cents are not always paramount,`` Lauderhill Mayor David Kaminsky said. ``You have to think of the people.``

Kaminsky met with transportation officials last week to see if the bus route change, inplemented Jan. 25, could be reconsidered.

The new route requires riders to change buses somewhere on Oakland Park Boulevard west of Inverrary Drive, if they want to go to the Broward Mall. Before, the bus they got on in Inverrary would take them directly to the mall. Many residents who use the bus are senior citizens, Kaminsky said.

The old route went from Sunshine Plaza, at the northwest corner of Commercial Boulevard and State Road 7, to the Lakes Mall. The bus would then pick up residents in Lauderdale Lakes and Inverrary in Lauderhill, ultimately arriving at the Broward Mall.

The new route, called 81, starts from downtown Fort Lauderdale on Broward Boulevard and goes to the Lauderhill Mall. From there, it makes several detours and goes into Inverrary. Residents, however, must transfer to another bus on Oakland Park Boulevard to get to the Broward Mall.

One bus rider said the wait for another bus can be as long as 10 minutes. ``Why should we be singled out to transfer in order to get anywhere,`` said the rider, a resident of Inverrary who did not want her name used. ``Senior citizens have to get out on Oakland Park Boulevard and wait for bus 72. It`s ridiculous.``

Ridership in Inverrary is low, said Glenn Margoles, manager of planning and scheduling for the Broward County Mass Transit division. By changing the route, transit officials saved $125,000 a year, he said.

``We were able to maintain services to other area and save costs,`` Margoles said. ``It`s to better utilize our resources.``

Kaminsky said he does not think the change is necessary and would like to meet with transportation officials again next week.